Calla lily plant named ‘Peach Pearl’

ABSTRACT

‘Peach Pearl’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having inflorescences with a yellow/orange-colored spathe that produces 6-22 inflorescences per tuber. The height of the top of an inflorescence above the soil can reach up to 50 cm. The leaves are green with transparent maculations present and have a leathery texture.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Peach Pearl’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Peach Pearl’.

‘Peach Pearl’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had the objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production in a wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breeding program began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected from the crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri variety named ‘Goldilocks’ (female parent, unpatented) with a Zantedeschia sprengeri variety named ‘Red Alert’ (male parent, unpatented). ‘Peach Pearl’ was selected in 2012 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Peach Pearl’ by tissue culture was performed by the inventor in September of 2012 in 't Zand, The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at the same location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown from 12 to 14 weeks in 14 cm pots in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made to The 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Peach Pearl’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Yellow/orange-colored spathes;     -   2. High inflorescence production; and     -   3. Fast forcing time.

Further, when compared to calla lily plant named ‘Mercedes’ (unpatented), the upper surface spathe color of ‘Mercedes’ varies between Red Group RHS 46C and 46D, whereas the upper surface spathe color of ‘Peach Pearl’ varies between Yellow Group RHS 12B and 13B, with a secondary color that varies between Yellow-Orange Group RHS 22A and Orange Group 25C.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Peach Pearl’ to its parents, Zantedeschia sprengeri variety ‘Goldilocks’ and Zantedeschia sprengeri variety ‘Red Alert’.

TABLE 1 ‘Peach Pearl’ Similarities Differences ‘Goldilocks’ Spathe shape Spathe color Leaf maculations Number of inflorescences ‘Red Alert’ Forcing time Spathe color Leaf maculations Spathe size

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT The Plant

-   Size:     -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—13-43 cm.         -   Height of top of inflorescences above the soil.—22-50 cm.         -   Diameter.—6.5-13 cm. -   Form: Erect. -   Number of inflorescences per tuber:     -   -   Size 14-16 cm in diameter.—6-10 inflorescences.         -   Size 16-18 cm in diameter.—12-17 inflorescences.         -   Size 18-20 cm in diameter.—12-19 inflorescences.         -   Size 20+ cm in diameter.—13-22 inflorescences. -   Branches:     -   -   Average number.—10.8.         -   Color.—Between Green Group RHS 143A and Yellow-Green Group             RHS 144B. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Width: 3.5-10 cm. Length: 10-19 cm.         -   Number per plant.—26-34.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Between decurrent and truncate.         -   Margin.—Undulate; having a color between Yellow-Green Group             RHS 146A and 147A.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS 146A to 147B,             having transparent maculations of approximately White Group             RHS 155A. Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS 146A to             146B, having transparent maculations of approximately White             Group RHS 155A.         -   Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Upper Surface:             Yellow-Green Group RHS 146A to 147A. Lower Surface:             Yellow-Green Group RHS 146B to 147A.         -   Surface quality.—Leathery.         -   Petiole.—Length: 11-22 cm. Diameter: 3-6 mm. Color: The base             is White Group RHS 155A, the upper part is Green Group RHS             143A to Yellow-Green Group RHS 146C. -   Roots:     -   -   Color.—White.         -   Branching.—Similar to other Zantedeschia varieties.

The Inflorescence and Seeds

-   Spathe:     -   -   Size.—Length (measured from opening to tip): 5-6 cm. Width:             3-6 cm. Height: 6-10 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Varies between Yellow Group RHS 12B             and 13B, with a secondary color that varies between             Yellow-Orange Group RHS 22A and Orange Group 25C. Lower             surface: Varies between Yellow Group RHS 7A and 12B, with a             secondary color that varies between Yellow-Orange Group RHS             22A and Orange Group 25C.         -   Vein color.—Between Yellow-Green Group RHS N144B and N144C.         -   Shape.—Cupped.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Decurrent.         -   Margin.—Rounded.         -   Texture.—Smooth (upper and lower surfaces). -   Spadix:     -   -   Size.—Length: 22-47 mm. Diameter: 4-9 mm.         -   Color.—Between Yellow Group RHS 13A and Yellow-Orange Group             RES 17B.         -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Size.—Length: 16-40 cm. Diameter: 5-7 mm.         -   Color.—The upper part is between Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A             and 146A, the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.         -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.         -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.         -   Stamens.—Presence: Not visible before pollen release.             Number: More than 20. Pollen amount: Abundant; similar to             ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,282). Color: Between White             Group RHS 155A and 155B.         -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between             Yellow Group RHS 13A and Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17B.         -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group             RHS 155A and 155B.         -   Pistils.—Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1             mm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.         -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow Group             RHS 13C and Yellow-Orange Group RHS 14C.         -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:             Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is between Green-Yellow             Group RHS 1B and Yellow Group RHS 3C; the bottom color is             between White Group RHS 155B to Green-White Group RHS 157C. -   Seeds:     -   -   Length.—4-7 mm.         -   Width.—3-6 mm.         -   Color.—Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A.         -   Amount.—Between 1-60.

General

-   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases noticed to     date. -   Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed to date. -   Heat tolerance: No heat tolerance. -   Hardiness: Not hardy. -   Flowering: In general, the time from planting to first flowering     takes eight weeks. However, tubers stored for a longer period before     planting may flower earlier — up to five weeks after planting. -   Lastingness: About two weeks on the plant. -   Fragrance: None. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘Peach Pearl’ as herein described and illustrated. 